Kallis, Amla put S. Africa on top

Pakistan made a cautious reply in their second innings as they reached 109 for two at stumps on the fourth day at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Azhar Ali, who made a patient half-century in the first innings, was unbeaten on 37 off 82 balls, while former captain Younis Khan was not out on 11.

With one day remaining, Pakistan need another 342 runs with eight wickets in hand. Though the target appeared to be a difficult one to surpass, Pakistan could still look for a draw, with the wicket, which offered assistance to bowlers on second and third days, seemed to have eased out significantly on the fourth day. Even the spinners were getting only slow turn, which the batsmen could easily negotiate.

Kallis and Amla were in awesome form and their unbeaten 242-run third wicket partnership helped captain Graeme Smith make a declaration an hour and 20 minutes after lunch. The declaration at 318/2 effectively gave Pakistan 131 overs to achieve their target.

The Kallis-Amla partnership was a new South African record against Pakistan, overhauling the Kallis-Smith duo’s 207-run stand in Lahore three years ago.

Pakistan started their chase in a confident fashion, with Mohammed Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar making 26-0 at tea.

After the break, South Africa made the breakthrough, as pacer Dale Steyn extracted some extra bounce from the wicket and Hafeez edged the ball to Johan Botha at first slip. The 30-year old Hafeez, who hit 60 in the first innings, made 34 off 47 balls, striking five fours.

Umar, played defensively for his 22 off 93 balls, fell towards the end to spinner Johan Botha as Kallis grabbed a fine catch at slips.

Steyn, though picked up one wicket, was a bit expensive as his 10 overs went for 49 runs. Botha, who bowled 14 overs, finished with figures of 1-27. Morne Morkel, who bagged five wickets in the first innings, operated a steady spell without any wicket.

Earlier, Kallis completed his 36^th century, playing an aggressive innings in which he hit four sixes and eight fours. He faced 218 balls for making 135. Amla gave him good support, scoring 118 off 225 balls with the help of 10 fours.

Amla, who completed the century first, also registered his 11^th Test ton when the 26^th-year old took a single in spinner Abdur Rehman’s over.

The very next over, Kallis reached the three figure mark. Amla reached his century off 190 balls, while Kallis made it in 185 deliveries. After smashing 100 runs in the first session, Amla and Kallis added 77 runs off 18 overs after lunch.

Pakistan, who lost one seamer Wahab Riaz due to a side strain on the first day, toiled hard on a fourth-day pitch, which played perfectly for the batsmen.

Rehman, who bowled a marathon spell of 36 overs finished with figures of 1-105 from 36 overs. The other wicket-taker, Saeed Ajmal, operated 27 overs and gave away 102 runs. Umar Gul went wicketless, bowling 18 overs for 73.

South Africa, who already won the Twenty20 and ODI series, made 380 in their first innings, while Pakistan collapsed to 248 in their reply.

pradeep@khaleejtimes.com

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan 1^st innings 248 (Mohammad Hafeez 60, Azhar Ali 56; M. Morkel 5-54, J. Botha 3-61)

South Africa 2^nd innings (overnight 139-2)

A. Petersen lbw b Rehman 26

G. Smith lbw b Ajmal 34

Hashim Amla not out 117

J. Kallis not out 136

Extras: (b1, lb2, nb1, w1) 5

Total: (for two wkts dec, 95 overs) 318

Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Petersen), 2-76 (Smith)

Bowling: Gul 18-0-73-0 (1w), Younis 3-0-15-0 (1nb), Rehman 36-5-105-1, Hafeez 11-3-20-0, Ajmal 27-2-102-1

Pakistan 2^nd innings

Mohammad Hafeez c Botha b Steyn 34

Taufiq Umer c Kallis b Botha 22

Ahar Ali not out 7

Younis Khan not out 11

Extras: (b4, lb1) 5

Total: (for two wkts, 41 overs) 109

Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Hafeez), 2-75 (Umer)

Bowling: Steyn 10-1-49-1, Morkel 9-3-17-0, Harris 8-2-11-0, Botha 14-4-27-1

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI) and Daryl Harper (AUS)

TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)